Should I change from Incremental to Differential BU?
Currently, I use Incremental BU, four Incremental before a new Full.
Is Differential better practice and can I simply change to Differential by changing the setting?
Regards.....
Many thanks GroverH.
I guess that Differential is likely to be superior to Incremental as with both methods you can go back to a number of previous BU versions (only dependant on the number of Incremental stages or the number of Differential stages between each Full version). However, a full recovery is likely to less error prone using Differential, as there are fewer stages to consolidate.
Is this logical?
Regards.....Noel
Many thanks, GroverH, for your usual speedy response!
I'll switch to Differential then!
Regards.....Noel
yes
At least in my opinion. My logic would be that there is a less chance of read problem in reading only two files as to the possibility of read problems reading a infinite number of incrementals.
However, even with diff type backups, it is not wise to have too many diff files. A recent or current full is always the a good choice--even if you use multiple tasks to accomplish.
Some users have mulltiple task configured into daily, weekly or bi-weekly, monthly and even to different backup disks. The theorgy being "don't put all your eggs into one basket,".
GroverH, if you use Diff back-ups, a recovery will only require the two files, won't it (Full and the latest Diff), no matter how many Diff files have been produced since the last Full BU.
Regards....Noel
Many thanks GroverH
I think I'll switch to Diff BU!
Regards.....Noel
As Grover pointed out earlier, create a new task.
Thank you Pat L.
I save three partitions, two on Thursdays and Sundays plus the third on a Sunday, as well, with no more than one "Full" version being saved on any one day.
They are initiated using Windows Task Scheduler and I will start the BU procedures as new events, with four Diffs following each Full.
I don't believe that, currently, each Diff will be particularly large. I guess that if a Diff is likely to be large compared with a Full, best to reduce the number of Diffs.
Regards and thanks again, Pat L and GroverH........Noel
Diff will grow larger and larger; I would say that when a diff is reaching half the size of the original full, you could consider starting a new series of backups, unless you are not concerned about backup space at all.
Many thanks, Pat L.
Golly! I propose to set the scheduling to carry out Full backups long before a Diff gets to half the Full size.
Whilst space cannot be disregarded, I feel it's the least important factor. BU reliability and security are my main concerns.
Regards and thanks again for your valuable comments.....Noel
Noel,
If you read many of my postings, you know that my preference for backup is the full disk image backup where the backup includes everything on the disk. This type backup makes the restore much easier when recreating a new disk and is no harder to restore when restoring to a single partition. In short, I believe the disk mage backup improves the changes for a more problem free restore versus a manual creaton of partitions, etc. So, if none of your current backups involve the "disk image" backup, I urge you to add one to your mix of backup retention.
Many thanks GroverH.
I confess that I don't know the difference between a disc BU and the procedure that I am using....which doesn't include selecting the "switch to disc mode!"
I am away for 10-days from tomorrow, however, on my return, I'll change the procedure to what I understand you recommend.
Currently, I back up the partitions from two discs onto two discs, twice a week. I assume I do the same, selecting "Switch to disc mode" and specify each with about four Diff backups after each Full.
Am I nearly there?
Regards.....Noel
I am understanding that when you open Windows Disk Management and examine your hard drive (probably the first disk) in which you have Windows installed, that the windows single disk has more than 1 partition--may some are even non-lettered partitions. Is this statement true?
Yes, GroverH, that's true.
I attach a copy of Disc Management.
I guess, amongst other things, I'm confused as to how to configure the two BU discs, ie discs 3 and 4.
Regards and thanks GroverH for your continuing help......Noel
PS Currently, I back up Personal and My Pictures twice a week (Thurs/Sun) and Win7 & Appl s-w once a week (Sunday). Over a 5-week period, I back up a Full of each partition followed by four Inc back ups.
Only you know how your computer is used and which data is most important to you. I can only comment about the types of backups offered.
Most likely, you are like most of us in that you want your backups to help you to recover from a virus or a disk failure related to your current computer. If you have a computer failure, you may choose to move up to a newer comer and operating system, in which case, all you need is your data files as you would install your program as new onto a new operating system.
Your current backup methods of individual backup (if it includes the non-letttered Recovery partition) may provide all you need to restore your old system. Not sure where your scratch partitions fits here. What the disk image backup (all partitions or everything) does is to make sure you have all you need to restosre and to make the restore process easier or simpler in that you can use the "disk restore' option which will enable you to bypass the configuration of each partition individually. This is a time saver and sometime does work better than the restore of single partitions. What I am suggesting is not that you change your process but am suggesting that you add "disk image" backups as part of your backup routine.
If you can only have one choice (partition mode or disk mode) , then the "disk option" is the better choice for the reasons mentioned and that you are assured of having all the partitions to be included within the backup/
One skilled forum user (XPILOT), has a desktop system with a quick hange disk holder. Regularly he takes the disk image backup.
Removes the disk just backed up and stores it away.
Removes old disk from storage and inserts disk into quick change holder.
Restores the just competed backup so the new disk now matches the one in storage.
The newly restored disk now becomes the in use disk until the next replacement time. Thus he always has a recent working disk stored away plus a 3rd disk with all his *.tib files stored away.
Most certainly, you should test your recovery plan to make sure it works as you expect. This test should be done now when there is no urgency. Having a second working disk identical to your existing system disk can be very important and could be a time saver. Too manyusers wait until they have an urgent recovery need only to find that their backups are incomplete and they have to just hoops to succeed. Test your recovery plans now before you have an issue.
For some, a disk image backup may not be possible due to size, or other reasons.
For example, I have a Win7 laptop where my 750 hard drive is split into a 500gb DATA partition and has only one root folder named Storage. This root Storage folder is divided into as many sub folders as needed and having everything inside the one folder makes is very easy and every simple to exclude the Storage folder from all backups. Thus, I have the partition configuration included in the disk option backup but exclude the Storage folder so no data from the Storage folder is included within the backup. This is one method of a work around to be able to use the disk option backup. I could create a replacement disk very easy but would have to add back any data files that were omitted via the exclude option.
You have to decide what is best for you.
Thank you so much GroverH for your very detailed explanation. I cannot make changes to my procedures until later next week as I'm away from tomorrow, however, I have one or two responses....
a) The Recovery partition is included with the Win7 BU procedure.
b) the Adobe Scratch file partition is not backed up with the Win7 partition, however, I can easily include this, 'though it may have to be physically moved to be adjacent to the Win7 partition. The partition doesn't contain useful data, just reserves space as a work area.
c) The Caches are not backed up with My Pictures, but again could easily be included, 'though again no useful data, just an overflow work area.
I think b) and c) alone make considerable virtue of the Disc BU procedure, as I understand it, however and more importantly.....
d) Am I able to carry out a Disc Image backup of my Disc 0 to Disc 3? I presume that the object disc (3) must be at least the same size as the original (0)......so I would need to replace 3 with a 2TB disc?
Am I right, or merely exposing my ignorance?
It looks to me that I should switch to Disc BUs and can't see an advantage of retaining my current method.
Once I've finalised a revised procedure, I suspect I'll need guidance on testing a recovery, without wrecking my system!
....sorry to be such a nuisance and so grateful for your patience....
Regards.....Noel
From your history of backups, you can calculate the projected size of the disk option backup.
With a little rearranging of your scratch disk (last paragraph post #17), you can easily include the scratach partiton but exclude its contents so it is backed up as an empty drive.
The best way to test is to get another disk and use it as your test disk so your master is never in harms way.
Many thanks, GroverH.
Sorry to go on about this, but I must get it clear in my mind!
I propose to Disc Backup my Disc 0, onto my Disc 3, I assume I must make Disc 0 a single partition? However, Disc 3 is smaller than Disc 0, although it's contents is always likely to fit. Ought I to replace Disc3, or will it be OK?
Disc 4 will remain the same for a Disc Backup of Disc 1.
Ought I to purchase another external disc for test purposes?
Regards.....Noel
I assume I must make Disc 0 a single partition?
?????? Do not understand.
What is the total USED space of all partitons on disk 0 your system disk?
You are currently backing up some partitons already. What is the size of those backups? and what is the used space on the Scratach disk?
Due to the 765 GB of unallocated space at the end of your system disk now, you may not be able to perform a disk option backup. You may need a target storage disk at least as big as the 2TB system disk.
My suggestion of a test disk would be to remove your existing Disk 0 system disk and replace it with another disk (test disk) and then restore your backup onto the test disk to see if you can create yourself a bootable replacement syistem disk. If you have a individual backup of each partiton of the 4 existing partitons, you could restore those individal backup onto the test disk in the same partition sequence as shown in the Windowd Disk Management attachment. The test restore would basically follow in the same fashion as signature image 3 below, item #1 inside that link. The test disk would not need to be as large 2TB system disk.
My only purpose in bringing up the topic of disk image backup was to make sure you had all you needed to create a replacement disk--if your current disk failed. For most users, the disk image works best but you have complicating factors which may not make that practical. You will have to decide what is the best solution for you. If all your backups are inside your current comptuer, I would encourge you to store some backups on an external computer so a strong power surge or damaging virus would not ruin all you disks and leave you without any backups.
Edited: Later
If my opening quote and question related to after the selecting the "switch to disk mode" option,
the next windows offers a single checkbox where the whote disk of all partitions is checked. If this is what your were explaining, then yes, I understand.
Thank you for your patience GroverH. If I can, I would like to adopt Disc to Disc BU and I supply more info, with more questions!.......
Discs 0 and 1 are internal
Current usage (will increase a lot)
Discs 3 and 4 are external
K 124 GB
L 24GB
F 106GB
I do not know why, but partition C: would not configure less than the size shown, although it's image, K:, is much less.
As you say, if I schedule a Disc Back-up 0 to 3, it would be best to replace Disc 3 with a 2TB disc. Would I reconfigure the new Disc 3 to be just one partition?
I partitioned my internal discs to enable, if necessary, the recovery of individual partitions. Can I still do this if I carry out Disc Backups?
Regards....Noel
Single partitons or even single files or single folders can be restored from a disk image backup.
If you buy an 2 tb external disk, most likely it will already be pre-formatted and yes, the disk will be a single partition--just as Drive F is now.
A new 2 TB disk will have approximate 1862 usable free space.
Are you wanting to change the size of your existing partitions (C or D or E)? It is possible to reduce or expand any one or all 3 partitions as you have 765 gb un-allocated space at the end.
Below is the storage space currently available.
Disk 3 Partition K has a size of 350 less 124 used or 226 GB of usable free space. (approximate)
Disk 3 Partition L has a size of 115 less 24 used or 91 GB of free space. (approximate)
Disk 4 Partition F has a size of 1862 less 106 used or 1756 gb of free space. (approximate)
Many thanks GroverH.
I believe you have now resolved all my queries and doubts! I will now switch to Disc BU using Diff between the Full versions!
I am most grateful for your patience in dealing with this extended correspondence.
Regards.....Noel